THE MOST USEFUL ORCHIDS 155 



Although such moisture-loving plants the Phalxnopsis dislike being 

 watered overhead, while the drip of cold condensed moisture from 

 the roof on to the plants is disastrous. PhalEenopsis are not by 

 any means easily cultivated — that is to say, they are not often 

 found in first-rate condition, but their beauty is such that they 

 warrant every attention and care. 



The leaves are flat and fleshy, and they are large in many of 

 the best known kinds. The flowers vary in size, but those of 

 P. amabilis^ P. Aphrodite^ and P. Rimestadiana are four or five 

 inches across, rounded, and borne in two rows on gracefully arching 

 spikes. 



Best Species and Hybirds 



P. AMABiLis, also known as P. grandiflora, is pure white, 

 except for pale yellow and red markings on the lip. P. A. Rime- 

 stadiana is a beautiful variety that differs from the species only in 

 that it comes from a greater elevation, is more amenable to cultiva- 

 tion, flowers regularly and may be successfully cultivated in an 

 intermediate house or ordinary store. P. Aphrodite, a native of 

 the Philippine Islands, is very like P. amabilis^ but has a broader 

 purple and yellow-marked lip. P. Casta is supposed to be a 

 natural hybrid between P. Aphrodite and P. Schilleriana ; the 

 flowers are white, with a light purple flush on the upper sepal and 

 yellow shading on the lower sepals. P. gloriosa is very like 

 P. Aphrodite^ but there are no yellow markings on the lip. 

 P. intermedia is a natural hybrid between P. rosea and 

 P. Aphrodite^ but it has been also raised artificially. P. Vesta is 

 derived from the same species, P. rosea being the pollen parent. 

 The flowers of P. intermedia are two or three inches across, and 

 produced in the Winter on tall and often branching spikes, particu- 

 larly in the case of the variety P. i. Portei. The white of the 



